NSW Premier Chris Minns won’t call on Gladys Berejiklian to apologise despite damning ICAC findings

The NSW Premier has remained tight-lipped on whether he believes his predecessor Gladys Berejiklian is “corrupt”.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said he would not call on his predecessor Gladys Berejiklian to apologise despite the state’s anti-corruption watchdog stating she had engaged in “serious corrupt conduct” during the course of her relationship with disgraced MP Daryl Maguire.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption’s (ICAC) investigation found Ms Berejiklian failed to report “suspicions” of Mr Maguire’s corrupt conduct. She also breached public trust, ICAC said, by failing to disclose the conflict of interest presented by her long-term relationship that “influenced” decisions she made as then premier.

Asked by a journalist whether Ms Berejiklian should offer the state an apology, Mr Minns simply responded: “No, I’m not calling for that.”

In her short response given hours after the report became public, Ms Berejiklian didn’t apologise or comment on the report findings; however, she hinted she could seek to appeal the findings.

“Serving the people of NSW was an honour and privilege. At all times I have worked my hardest in the public interest. Nothing in this report demonstrates otherwise,” she said.

“Thank you to members of the public for their incredible support. This will sustain me always.

“The report is currently being examined by my legal team.”

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has not apologised despite ICAC finding that she engaged in corrupt conduct. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Bianca De Marchi

Despite the findings, Mr Minns would not answer whether he thought Ms Berejiklian was corrupt.

“It’s not for me to pass judgment about findings made by independent organisations or investigatory bodies.

“I’m not going to comment about specific recommendations or inquiries just as I wouldn’t in the normal course of events comment about Supreme Court judgments,” he said.

“What I would say and what I said about premier Berejiklian yesterday is that I thought her service to the state during Covid was exemplary, and notwithstanding the findings from ICAC in the last 24 hours, I don’t think it detracts from her record of service during what was a terrible period in the state’s history.”

His criticisms of the ex-Wagga Wagga MP were more overt, with Mr Minns describing his behaviour as “deplorable”.

Chris Minns said Daryl Maguire’s actions were ‘deplorable’. Picture: NewsWire/ Nicholas Eagar

Unlike Ms Berejiklian, the ICAC said it would seek advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions to consider criminal proceedings against Mr Maguire.

“It’s self-evidently the case that if you look at the conduct of Mr Maguire over quite a few different inquiries pursued by the ICAC, the findings are serious and grave,” Mr Minns said.

“The ICAC has pursued corruption and indeed discovered corruption on a massive scale in relation to former member of parliament for Wagga Wagga, Daryl Maguire, and it’s important his deeds in office be exposed.

“I’m not prepared to make a comment about the former premier and I have made comment about Mr Maguire.”

Mr Minns’ comments mirrored the response of Opposition Leader Mark Speakman on Thursday. Lashing Mr Maguire’s actions as bringing “disgrace upon himself and disgrace upon the parliament”, Mr Speakman said Ms Berejiklian “magnificently” led the state throughout the pandemic.

Asked if “Gladys Berejiklian is corrupt”, Mr Speakman also deflected the question before admitting ICAC’s findings against his former boss were “significant”.